The countdown to T0 fungicide sprays on cereal crops has begun across many southern parts of the country, with applications anticipated within the next 14 days if conditions allow.

In the home counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, Frontier agronomist Andrew Havergal is reporting high levels of septoria and yellow rust in many wheat varieties.

“Septoria is everywhere in crops around this area but yellow rust is more variety related. Most varieties will have at least some yellow rust this spring.

“I’d say that T0 is still 14 days away but that is very dependent on the weather. If it warms up we’ll need to get on quickly with an application because even though crops will start to grow, disease could really take off.”

See also: Growers and agronomists report surge in crop disease levels

Ability to get on with a timely T0 application could be tricky however, as prevailing cold and wet weather makes for far from ideal spraying conditions.

Chris Papworth, farm manager at Crown Farm in Bedfordshire, says parts of some fields are waterlogged with crops looking very unhappy in the colder temperatures.

“We’ve gone from a warm winter where crops were looking pretty thick, to now cold and wet conditions where things aren’t looking at their best, just when they want to start growing away.”

Elsewhere in the country, leaf four is starting to emerge in more forward wheat with T0 timings expected to be slightly earlier than normal.

In Dorset, Agrii agronomist Todd Jex anticipates a T0 spray in the next week to 10 days on this crop of Tower winter barley. 

https://twitter.com/Agronomist_Todd/status/707172096376492032

Rye near Downham Market in Norfolk is showing signs of brown rust as it hits GS30, now approaching it’s T0 timing.

Brown rust still present in #Rye on new & old leaf material. T0 due soon pic.twitter.com/dzhh0x8Uvr

— Rosemary Hall (@cropresearchse1) February 26, 2016

End of next week warming up, if the forecast can be believed! Good job #rye at GS 30 & needs its PGR & T0.

— Rosemary Hall (@cropresearchse1) March 4, 2016

Herefordshire independent agronomist David Lines thinks T0 could be earlier this season for some more forward crops.

Leaf 4 emerging on mid September drilled skyfall. T0 could be early pic.twitter.com/pH1GyGPJAn

— David Lines💙 (@LinesDavid) March 1, 2016

Independent agronomists in the Midlands are also reporting wheat now at GS30, with a fungicide spray due very soon.

Leaf 4 showing crop at GS30. Things are going to start getting busy very soon. pic.twitter.com/pmmUI5iHbJ

— Indigro (@Indigro1) March 7, 2016

Keep the Farmers Weekly arable team updated on your crop development throughout the season on Twitter by mentioning @FarmersWeekly or @OliHillFW in your tweets.